Costly exoneration for ostracised lady doctor

Sambalpur, July 19 (UNI) A lady doctor, ostracised by her community for marrying a lower caste youth, has to pay money and offer goat meat to return to her community.

The incident took place in Orissa's backward district Bolangir and the victim was none other than a lady doctor belonging to weaver (Bhulia-Meher) community, who had to pay Rs 10,000 and offer 60 kg goat meat to return to the society from ostracism.

Police said Dr Nilima Meher of Babukhinda village married a youth of her own caste Amit Meher in 2001. The marriage did not last long and the couple got separated after three years.

After the separation, Nilima went to Bolangir to stay with her uncle at Kandhpali, where she developed intimacy with one of her relations Satyanarayan Meher and later married him.

The couple returned to Babukhinda to stay there permanently. But Nilima's effort to lead a peaceful life suffered a setback when the villagers questioned the caste of the bridegroom.

The villagers said since she was married to a person from lower caste, she had to give a feast with 60 kg of meat and Rs 10,000 cash or face ostracism.

The lady doctor initially paid Rs 2000 to the villagers but the secretary of the Kulis Meher Samaj had served a notice on Nilima and her father asking them to pay the rest Rs 8000 or face the ire of the society.

Nilima conceded to the demand of the villagers but later took shelter of Bolangir Superintendent of Police Himansu Lal, who registered a case and intimated the matter to his counterparts in Sambalpur and Sonepur for a detailed enquiry.

UNI